Dusk settled over the ruins of Eldross like a slow, bleeding wound across the sky. Orange and violet light stretched across broken towers and shattered streets, casting long, jagged shadows that seemed to move with a life of their own. The wind howled through hollow buildings, slipping through cracked stone and splintered wood, carrying with it the echoes of a city that had long since fallen.
At the center of it all, at a fractured crossroads where four roads split into darkness, they stood.
Four figures. One decision.
Reider stood at the front, his posture straight, his expression calm—but his eyes were sharp, calculating every angle, every risk. Across from him, Eryndra rolled her shoulders, flames flickering lazily along her fingertips like restless predators waiting to be unleashed.
Behind them, Vael stood with her arms crossed, unreadable as always. Mei remained close to her side, clutching a small satchel tightly, her fingers tense but steady. There was fear in her—but it was controlled, refined into something stronger.
This wasn't hesitation.
This was resolve.
"You and me," Reider said, his voice cutting cleanly through the wind as he looked at Eryndra. "We draw Lilith and Kraggor out. No hesitation. No mercy."
Eryndra's lips curled into a grin, sharp and eager. She cracked her knuckles, the sound snapping through the air as flames climbed higher along her arms. "Finally," she muttered. "I was getting bored of all the planning."
Vael didn't react immediately. Her gaze shifted slightly toward Reider as he turned to her, his tone changing—not softer, but more precise.
"The Forge is beneath the old palace," he said. "Nyx's shard will guide you. Don't let anything stop you."
Vael's eyes flickered, the faint glow of the dragon tattoo along her collarbone pulsing once beneath her skin. "And if I become what I was…" she asked quietly, "…and can't come back?"
Reider didn't hesitate. Not even for a second.
"Then we drag you back," he said. "However we have to."
For a moment, the wind seemed to still.
Vael's lips twitched—just barely. "Brat."
Mei stepped forward, placing a hand gently on Reider's arm. Her voice was quieter, but it carried weight. "Be careful," she said. "Both of you."
Reider's hand covered hers briefly. Grounding. Certain.
"You too."
Eryndra exhaled loudly, placing her hands on her hips. "Alright, enough of this," she said. "We've got demons to kill."
A faint movement stirred from the alley beside them.
Leona stepped out first, her posture rigid, her hand resting firmly on the hilt of her sword. Zera followed just behind, more relaxed but no less ready.
"We'll find Eleanor," Leona said, her voice tight with determination. "Just… keep them busy."
Zera raised two fingers in a casual salute, though her eyes were anything but casual. "Don't die before we get back," she added. "I'd never hear the end of it from Vael."
Vael scoffed, though the faint warmth in her eyes betrayed her. "Just don't get caught."
The moment stretched.
Then broke.
Reider turned to Eryndra. "Ready?"
Her grin widened, flames spiraling up her arms like coiled serpents. "I was born ready."
They moved.
Reider vanished first—his form blurring into nothing, the ground cracking faintly beneath where he stood. Eryndra followed with a burst of flame, launching herself onto the rooftops in a streak of fire.
Behind them, the others split.
Vael turned to Mei. "Stay close," she said. "If something happens—"
"I know," Mei interrupted, her voice firmer now. "You'll bring me back."
Vael held her gaze for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Yeah."
And they disappeared into the shadows.
The demon tower loomed like a black wound against the dying sky.
Reider landed first in the palace courtyard, boots cracking against the worn stone. Eryndra dropped beside him a moment later, flames flickering around her like a second skin.
The silence lasted less than a second.
Then the doors burst open.
Demons poured out—snarling, twisted forms clad in jagged armor, their weapons dripping with dark energy. Two dozen at least. Maybe more.
Eryndra tilted her head. "Company."
Reider's weapon shifted in his hand, reforming into a sleek longsword, mana crawling along the blade like lightning beneath glass.
"Clear a path."
Eryndra didn't answer.
She stepped forward—and unleashed hell.
Fire erupted from her palms in a massive wave, white-hot and devouring. The front line of demons didn't even have time to scream before they were erased, their forms dissolving into ash mid-motion.
The rest scattered.
Too slow.
Reider moved.
To the untrained eye, he disappeared.
To the demons, he became death.
Three fell before the first body hit the ground—clean cuts, precise, efficient. No wasted motion. No hesitation.
Eryndra flipped over him, landing in the center of a cluster. Flames spiraled outward from her in a violent vortex, forcing them back.
"COME ON!" she shouted, her voice alive with battle.
They hesitated.
That was their mistake.
The ground shattered.
A massive force slammed into the courtyard, cracking stone and sending both Reider and Eryndra leaping backward.
Then it rose.
Kraggor.
His massive frame unfolded from the rubble, muscles coiled with raw power, his presence alone warping the air around him. His eyes burned with fury as they locked onto Reider.
"BOY."
Reider landed smoothly, blade steady in his grip. "You must be Kraggor," he said flatly. "Lilith didn't want to come out herself?"
Kraggor's lips peeled back in a snarl. "She gets the woman," he said. "You're mine."
Eryndra rolled her neck, flames dancing higher. "Aw," she muttered. "I don't get the big one? You're no fun."
The air shifted.
Lilith stepped forward from the tower entrance, her presence alone dragging the atmosphere down like gravity had doubled. Dark energy clung to her like a second shadow.
"I'll play with you," she said, her gaze settling on Eryndra.
Eryndra's smirk didn't falter—but her eyes sharpened.
"Don't die before I finish," she muttered to Reider.
"Same to you."
Kraggor moved first.
He lunged.
Reider vanished—and reappeared behind him, blade already swinging.
Steel met flesh.
Or tried to.
Kraggor caught the blade with his forearm. Sparks flew. The blade didn't cut.
"WEAK."
His backhand came instantly.
Reider didn't dodge in time.
The impact sent him flying—his body crashing through a pillar, stone exploding around him as he hit the ground.
Across the courtyard, Eryndra's eyes flicked toward him—
—and Lilith was already there.
"Eyes on me, darling."
Dark energy exploded forward.
Eryndra twisted mid-air, barely avoiding the blast as it tore through the ground behind her. She landed hard, already throwing a fireball.
Lilith waved it aside like it was nothing.
"Is that all?" she said calmly. "I expected more."
Eryndra's eyes burned. "You don't know anything about me."
She charged.
Fire met darkness.
The collision shook the courtyard.
Reider pushed himself out of the rubble, blood running down his arm. His expression didn't change.
Kraggor approached slowly, each step cracking stone beneath his weight. "You should have stayed hidden," he growled. "Now I'll tear you apart."
Reider's weapon shifted.
The blade elongated, curving—becoming a massive war scythe, humming with concentrated mana.
"You talk too much."
He moved.
Faster than before.
The scythe cut across Kraggor's chest—this time, it bit.
Black blood sprayed.
Kraggor staggered.
"You—!"
Reider didn't stop.
He spun, bringing the blade around again—
Kraggor caught it.
His grip tightened, crushing against the weapon.
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
He slammed Reider into the ground, the impact cracking the courtyard. Then lifted him by the throat.
"No core," Kraggor snarled. "No power. Just an insect—"
Reider moved.
The weapon shifted mid-grip—shrinking into a short blade.
He drove it upward.
Straight into Kraggor's eye.
The scream that followed tore through the battlefield.
Kraggor dropped him, stumbling back, clutching his ruined eye as black blood poured down his face.
Reider landed, breathing hard, weapon reforming in his hand.
"Still think I'm weak?"
Across the courtyard, fire exploded.
Eryndra stood facing Lilith, blood running from a cut along her cheek—but she was smiling.
Lilith's robes were burned. Singed.
Damaged.
"You're persistent," Lilith said.
"And you're not untouchable," Eryndra replied.
Her flames intensified.
Not red.
Not orange.
White.
Blinding.
"Let's see if your pride survives this."
She unleashed everything.
The explosion that followed swallowed the courtyard whole.
When the fire cleared—
Lilith was kneeling.
Burned.
Breathing hard.
For the first time—shaken.
Eryndra stood over her.
Flames still dancing.
Eyes blazing.
"Yeah," she said quietly. "I did."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Now get up."
A pause.
Her smile returned—sharp, dangerous.
"We're not done yet."
And above them—
far beyond the battlefield—
deep beneath the old palace—
something ancient stirred.
The seal trembled.
And far below…
something listened.